Brett Dalton Joins 'S.H.I.E.L.D.' As Deadly Agent Grant

Briefly: Here's the latest on Marvel's first big foray into television. The cast of S.H.I.E.L.D. has just been bolstered by Brett Dalton (Army Wives, Killing Lincoln, Blue Bloods), who will play Agent Grant, a "rising star" of the S.H.I.E.L.D. organization. Grant is "deadly, precise, and cool under fire — but not so great with the people skills." Dalton will work alongside Ming-Na, who is top pilot and weapons expert Agent Melinda May; Clark Gregg as Agent Phil Coulson, and Elizabeth Henstridge as "science whiz Agent Gemma Simmons," and Iain De Caestecker will be Agent Leo Fitz, a technology guru.

The show jumps off from elements of S.H.I.E.L.D. as seen in Marvel's solo hero movies and The Avengers. Joss Whedon co-wrote the pilot with Jed Whedon and Maurissa Tancharoen, and will direct the pilot, which should be a big asset given the success of The Avengers. [TV Line]